| Show Study Abroad program m takes students around the world Japan here comes Timothy Janss Janssen n r Campus Reporter Ken Freemen a professor of Introduction to Japanese Culture at t Salt Lake Community College International Studies 2990 who has been working with students involved in the Study Abroad program will be leading this years year's group on an adventure to Japan a country they've never explored before The study abroad department has been taking such a trip for about ten years Freeman says that even though this will be his second time around his knowledge of and experience living in Japan while at a young age will enable his group to better understand what t to expect On the surface its it's very different from America Freeman says That makes it very intriguing ing said Freeman Freeman also expresses esses his love for the culture and his understanding of the language while describing his experience as well as his love for Japanese food Its a great country he says For three weeks Freeman and his group of 11 students willbe will willbe willbe be studying abroad but for a particular purpose Kathy Gross a student of study abroad and recent graduate of Salt Lake Community College who majored as a physical therapist assistant says Learning this culture and how they function is going to help me with my career being able to assist and help the Japanese She explains that her class is reading a book called Kata which is about in Japan and explains the specific way in which the Japanese do things The Japanese live towards something called wah which demonstrates harmony Its It's very peaceful and quiet says Gross Major reasons for going are so we can have a cultural experience he explains Have Havethe Havethe Havethe the students live in and operate in another culture to get an appreciation for the Japanese history and culture and to feel more comfortable around folks that grow up in a culture other than their own Upon arriving at their destination of Osaka which is several hours south of Tokyo on the southern island of Japan Freeman indicates that students will be guests of University a Buddhist university They host us says Freeman We stay on their campus campusand campusand campusand and take classes from them in language and culture and arts Freeman says that they will be traveling to places like Nara and Hiroshima where the atomic bomb was dropped at the end of WWII Lauren Stehle a student in the study abroad program expresses her passion for art and hopes to gain a better understanding of how the Japanese implements art into Three Weeks Continued on rr fi fifI 4 fI I lt lJ t Y l' t I I J 0 w iP r 1 p- p w ar ai L Photo courtesy of Study Abroad Program study abroad students in Japan in spring of 09 Three weeks in Japan 1 Continued from A Al 1 i their lifestyle very specific with their art Stehle says I wanna learn a lot about their then culture and art We take a number of excursions to areas like castles and cultural sites Freeman says The actual cost for the program is 2900 per person says Freeman Which is a steal in terms of what were we're going to o do While in Japan the group has been given the opportunity to be part of a traditional Japanese Chi ceremony which in hi the words of professor Freeman Is actually a thousand years old Of course taking a little side trip seems convenient when it comes to exploring Japanese food Were going goin to go to the Ramen Noodle Factory in Osaka says Freeman However its it's a combination of classroom work and cultural excursions when it comes to partial purposes of the trip Theres a fair amount of free time tiTIe he explains Usually they make friends with Japanese college students very quickly Sam student involved with study abroad says I really want to see all the temples gold and relics they have tells us that these things are some of the most sacred things the Japanese have also tells of his curiosity for Japanese vending machines Ive heard you can buy a tuxedo out of a vending machine he says 1 But is especially t 1 excited about the prospect i i of attending a baseball 1 i game They are the best 1 over there with baseball i he explains I just want to t 1 tsee see what its it's all about t 1 Preparation and 1 planning usually starts a 1 j year in advance of the trip A Freeman explains You have to be fit he says i Theres a lot of walking i climbing so theres there's a fair bit of exercise you have to todo 1 do for this trip Professor Freeman advises his students to make sure they have a passport and get a cell phone service lined up so they can make and receive calls from Japan Interestingly enough with Japan being one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world they're proud to have ave their own cell phone network and Its one of the few places in the world that it doesn't matter what kind cind of phone you have from America it it wont won't work there says Freeman Freeman and his group intend i to leave May 8 2010 and md w will ll return on May 31 Personally the longer the he better says Freeman But in three weeks we pack Jack a lot in |
